Egypt calls on Netherlands to release detained Egyptian citizen

Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held a Monday evening phone call with his Dutch counterpart, Tom Berendsen, to discuss the release of an Egyptian citizen arrested by Dutch authorities on Sunday.

The Foreign Minister called for an explanation of the circumstances surrounding the incident and his prompt release.

During the call, Abdelatty also emphasized the critical importance of Dutch authorities providing necessary and adequate protection for the Egyptian Embassy in The Hague, in accordance with the obligations stipulated in the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

He underscored the importance of fully honoring these obligations—consistent with the principle of reciprocity and Egypt’s firm commitment to providing necessary protection for all diplomatic missions within its territory—a stance with which the Dutch minister concurred.

The two ministers agreed to maintain consultations and resolve outstanding issues, thereby preserving the friendly relations that have united the two countries over the past decades.